Fitting a thermostatic shower mixer

[Nathz29]

Got a shower mixer to fit to 15mm plastic pipes, problem is I'm having trouble getting it to seal.

It a copression seal so I have 15mm plastic pipes inserted pipe stiffener and 15mm olive over the pipe then when the nut is tightened onto the mixer, the pipe will simply pull out of the mixer? the olive remains inside the fitting.....

Thought a bout a smaller olive, cannot get a 12mm over the pipes though any ideas?

[RSV]

Have you got inserts in the end of the plastic pipes? (pipe liners)

Alternatively you could change from plastic to copper just before it goes into the compression fitting.

[Nathz29]

yes i have got 15 mm pipe inserts in the ends of the pipes,although having said that they aren't the tightest fit? Are graduated inserts avaliable? Cannot change to copper as the fitting is fixed flush to the wall which is already tiled, I just have the two plastic pipes in to fit the mixer onto...

[gurry]

As long as you have all of your pipe and fitting sizes correct it sounds like you just need to tighten up the compression fitting a bit more.

When you take the fitting apart again does it look like the olive has some wear marks on the edges?

Have the olives bitten into the plastic pipe at all ?

[Nathz29]

No I think that is the problem 15mm olive on 15mm pipework but even with the pipe stiffener in place it will slide pretty much freely up and down the pipe, only thing i can think of is a smaller olive but cannot get a 12mm to fit?

[Bodman]

Can you not chop the last six inches off the plastic pipe and replace it with copper.

//Bod

[greaseweasel]

Im with Gurry. When a compression fitting is tightened properly the olive should grip the pipe. Even if it still leaks it will not be easily moved alonged the pipe as you say. In that case a couple of rounds of PTFE tape should do the trick.

I've fitted a few showers and all modern ones have plastic fittings in the shower side. Either push fit or a nylon pipe that you attach a metal compression fitting onto.

Could you take a picture of the mixer fitting as it sounds like somethings amiss.

[gurry]

No I think that is the problem 15mm olive on 15mm pipework but even with the pipe stiffener in place it will slide pretty much freely up and down the pipe, only thing i can think of is a smaller olive but cannot get a 12mm to fit?

The other obvious point is how do you propose to get a 12mm olive over a 15mm pipe without stretching the olive or trying to decrease the pipe diameter. Get an off cut of the nylon pipe and try tightening it up some more in the fitting that way all you waste is a short length of pipe and an olive.

[B B Leo]

okay m8 is the olives brass or copper coloured?? from what ur saying, if they came with the fitting they will be brass which makes them harder to tighten than copper.
u need to tighten it up more! but holding the fitting with pump pliers or a spanner and tighten each one in turn, but dont over tighten!!

[4me2]

Can you not chop the last six inches off the plastic pipe and replace it with copper.

//Bod

I've seen a trademan do this on a few occasions and it works.

They also use an old copper cut off to initially grip and crush the olive with then put it on the plastic hose.

I've been informed its very easy to fuck the fittings (plastic ones) if you don't.

[B B Leo]

I've seen a trademan do this on a few occasions and it works.

They also use an old copper cut off to initially grip and crush the olive with then put it on the plastic hose.

I've been informed its very easy to fu(k the fittings (plastic ones) if you don't.

u dont need too just tighten..
i do it for a living

[gurry]

We still don't know if he got this sorted. Wonder if it is still leaking and he has floated away...............

[coin-op]

u dont need too just tighten..
i do it for a living

Aye, but do you wear a stetson and arrive at work on a horse?

[B B Leo]

We still don't know if he got this sorted. Wonder if it is still leaking and he has floated away...............

hes drowned

[4me2]

u dont need too just tighten..
i do it for a living

Rogue trader Leo .

[B B Leo]

Rogue trader Leo .

OH YA Fecker

[coin-op]

Surely you realised that's what I was alluding to - stetson + horse = cowboy!

[B B Leo]

Surely you realised that's what I was alluding to - stetson + horse = cowboy!

okay m8 ur feeling left out!!!!
here ur go
UR A (UNT 2